5 Everyday Routines of Wealthy People

Whether you end each day binge-watching TV until the wee hours, or you drink a kale smoothie before hitting the hay promptly at 10 p.m., your daily routine will certainly affect your ability to achieve your goals.

In fact, many famous and wealthy individuals claim that their daily routines are the driving force behind their success. That's why it's a great idea to learn how trailblazers and top-earners structure their days so you can figure out which of their routines will help set you up for success. (See also: 7 Money Lessons We Can Learn From Beyoncé)

1. Wake up early

While hitting the snooze button until 20 minutes before you absolutely have to leave for work may feel a little more comfortable than jumping out of bed at 5:30 a.m., this habitual procrastination may be costing you. Not only are you more likely to forget something important in your rush out the door, but you start your day already feeling like you're behind and out of control. It's difficult to start tackling work when you're still rubbing sleep out of your eyes, am I right?

This is why nearly 50 percent of wealthy individuals get up at least three hours before their workday starts, according to Tom Corley, author of Change Your Habits, Change Your Life. Having that extra time in the morning gives you the opportunity to plan your day, exercise, or work on a side project — all of which will help you get in the right frame of mind to get to work once you get to the office.

2. Exercise

We all know that we should be exercising, but just because we know that breaking a sweat is necessary for good health doesn't mean we do it. However, Corley found that 76 percent of wealthy people make sure they spend 30 minutes or more every day on aerobic exercise.

These successful individuals recognize that their physical health is the cornerstone of all of their success. You cannot work toward your goals if you're sick. In addition, according to Harvard Medical School, aerobic exercise such as walking, running, biking, or swimming improves both thinking and memory. This means that making sure daily exercise is part of your routine can help you to work smarter. (See also: 7 Ways to Sneak More Exercise Into Your Busy Schedule)

3. Eliminate choices

How many times have you stood in front of your bulging closet wondering what to wear to work that day? While it may seem like a luxury to have lots of choices, it can often lead to decision fatigue, which is when you use up your brain's limited bandwidth on several smaller daily decisions, making it that much harder for you to figure out the right choice on bigger decisions.

This is why many wealthy individuals have voluntarily chosen to eliminate decisions in their day. For instance, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg admits to owning 20 identical gray T-shirts so that he doesn't have to think about what to wear each morning. Similarly, Apple's Steve Jobs was famous for his uniform of black turtleneck and jeans. Adhering to these personal uniforms allowed these extremely influential men to focus their attention where it belongs — on the growth of their products.

Similarly, many successful people choose to eat the same foods each day so they aren't tempted to stray from a healthy or inexpensive diet. This lack of choice means there is no chance of agonizing over whether or not to have pizza for lunch, since the decision has already been made. (See also: Here's How Too Many Decisions Costs You Money)

4. Meditate

Zoning out while playing Candy Crush may feel like a sort of Zen state while you're in the midst of a game, but it's hardly going to offer you the kind of stress-reducing relaxation that meditation can.

For one thing, you'll never fall prey to an in-app purchase in a moment of weakness while meditating. For another, meditation offers everything from improved cognitive functioning, creative thinking, and productivity, to better physical health — none of which you'll get from a rousing round of smartphone gaming.

This is why hugely successful individuals like Oprah Winfrey and Bridgewater Associates founder Ray Dalio make sure to include meditation in their daily routines. The daily mindfulness practice helps these wealthy individuals to keep their minds clear and focused. (See also: 6 Ways Meditation Can Make You a Money Master)

5. Read

Reading has a number of excellent brain benefits, and incorporating a routine of reading a book at bedtime is far better for your sleep health than scrolling through Facebook or Instagram on your phone.

But before you pick up the latest crime thriller or romance novel, consider what kind of reading is going to do the most to help improve your life. According to Corley, 85 percent of wealthy individuals read at least 30 minutes each day for self-improvement. That means they pick up books that will help them to achieve more or help them overcome bad habits, rather than reading solely for entertainment. (See also: 10 Books to Read for a Better Money Mindset)

Create a wealthy life

Having a beneficial daily routine is not a shortcut to riches. Instead, it helps foster the proper circumstances you need in your life to reach your goals and live the life you want.

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